If you’re in Vienna for a short time, make sure you first visit the area of St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom) and wander through the ancient streets surrounding it. It’s an unforgettable experience and an opportunity to truly feel the richness and beauty of Vienna. In this article, you can read about tours and activities in the cathedral, as well as other attractions in its vicinity.
In the heart of the old city, in Vienna’s first district, stands a large and impressive cathedral. The church was dedicated to St. Stephen and is called Stephansdom in German. The church was built back in the 12th century and has hosted many important events in Austrian history, such as Mozart’s funeral.
The height of the southern church tower reaches 136.7 meters, making it one of the tallest churches in the world.
Guided Tours in the Cathedral
Guided tours are offered to visitors throughout the year. You can take a tour of the cathedral, the catacombs, or both together.
Cathedral Tour:
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Meeting Point: Near the cathedral shop
- Tour Time: The English tour starts at 10:30 AM, Monday to Friday.
- Cost:
- Adult – €7
- Child (6 to 14) – €3
- Group tours (for groups of over 15 people) can be booked in advance. Please contact by email: tour@stephanskirche.at
Catacombs Tour:
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Meeting Point: The stairs leading down to the catacombs
- Tour Times:
- Monday to Saturday: 10:00, 11:00, 11:30, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:30, 16:00, and 16:30.
- Sundays and holidays: 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:30, 16:00, and 16:30.
- Cost:
- Adult – €7
- Child (6 to 14) – €3
- Group tours (for groups of over 15 people) can be booked in advance. Please contact by email: tour@stephanskirche.at
View from the Cathedral Towers
If you want to look out over the entire old city, you can go up one of the cathedral towers. If you have the energy to climb many stairs, it’s worth going up to the top of the South Tower, which rises to a height of 136.7 meters, to see all of Vienna (provided there is good visibility and the renovation work is complete).
1. View from the South Tower (“Türmerstube”):
A climb of 343 steps to the top of the tower at a height of 136.7 meters.
- Operating Hours: Every day from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Last ascent at 6:15 PM.
- Cost:
- Adult: €6.50
- Child (6-14): €2.50
2. View from the North Tower (Pummerin Bell):
If you are not interested in the challenging climb up the stairs to the top of the tower, you can choose the view from the North Tower. There, an elevator takes you up to the bell chamber.
- Operating Hours:
- January – March: Every day from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Last ascent at 5:15 PM.
- April – December: Every day from 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM. Last ascent at 8:15 PM.
- Cost:
- Adult: €7
- Child (6-14): €3
Music Performances – Classical Concerts
As befits the city of Vienna, a variety of classical and religious music performances are held in the church. Some of the performances are free (those on Sundays) and some are paid. The free performances include organ music, choirs, orchestras, and soloists. These performances take place at 10:15 AM on Sundays and holidays.
The paid performances take place several times a month, and you need to purchase tickets to attend. Tickets can be bought at the church itself or by contacting the organization responsible for the performances directly.
If you are interested in excellent concerts in Vienna, you can check our list of recommended concerts. The concerts take place in concert halls throughout the city or in other churches in and around the first district.
Other Essential Information for Your Visit to the Cathedral
Opening Hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Sundays and holidays: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Entrance to the area near the Giant’s Gate is free. If you want to enter the main part of the church, you must purchase a tour ticket.
You can purchase an all-inclusive ticket for all activities in the cathedral: nave + catacombs + both towers + audio guide + Cathedral Museum. The combined ticket costs €25 for an adult and €7 for a child.
How to get there?
The easiest way is to take the subway and get off at the Stephansplatz station. The U1 (red line) and U3 (orange line) train lines stop at this station. The cathedral is right at the exit of the station.
- Address: Stephansplatz 3, 1010 Wien
Map:
Additional Attractions in the Cathedral Area
The Cathedral Museum (Dom Museum)
If you are a fan of art and history, you can visit the Cathedral Museum (Dom Museum in German). The museum is located on St. Stephen’s Square, just a few meters from the cathedral. The museum features exhibitions of ancient artifacts from the preserved collections of the Habsburg family. The exhibits in the museum are a true treasure trove. You can see ancient medieval paintings, sculptures, sacred objects, books, portraits, and precious altars. In addition, the museum displays the modern art collection of the artist Otto Mauer.
Opening hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Thursdays: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
- The museum is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and national holidays.
- Admission is possible up to half an hour before closing.
Entrance Fee for the Museum:
- Adult: €10.
- Reduced price (students up to 25, pensioners): €8.
- Child (6-18): €3.
- Child up to age 6: Free.
- A combined ticket for the cathedral, catacombs, and museum can be purchased for €25.
- Official Website
- Address: Stephansplatz 6, 1010 Vienna, Austria
Map:
Virgilkapelle Museum (Virgilkapelle in German)
This place is an ancient burial and prayer chamber that was discovered in 1973 during the construction of the Stephansplatz train station, located directly beneath St. Stephen’s Square. The impressive underground room that was discovered is about 12 meters below the square. The Gothic design of this space is one of the few in Vienna that has been so well preserved, and you can clearly see various elements from the Middle Ages.
In fact, the history of the place is not entirely clear. Researchers estimate that the burial chamber was established in the 13th century when Duke Frederick of the House of Babenberg was in power. At that time, there was a cemetery in the area where the cathedral is located. Burials in the cathedral area continued for several hundred years until they were stopped in the 18th century. It is possible that the cessation of burials in the area led to the covering of the burial chamber with stones since it was no longer in use.
Today, the site serves as a historical museum and belongs to the Vienna Museum.
Essential Information for Visiting the Virgilkapelle Museum
- Opening Hours:
- Friday to Sunday, and holidays: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- The museum is closed on 1.1, 1.5, 25.12.
- Costs:
- Adult: €5.
- Children and youths up to age 19: Free entry.
- Audio guide: Free.
- First Sunday of the month: Free entry for everyone!
- Official Website
How to get there?
You can enter the museum directly from the Stephansplatz subway station.
Other Attractions near St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Around the cathedral, there are beautiful ancient streets where you can shop in luxury stores or just sit in a Viennese coffee house and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere. The recommended streets for a relaxed walk are Graben Street, Kärntner Street, and Kohlmarkt Street. From the church, you can turn onto Graben Street and walk along it, enjoying the royal atmosphere and ancient buildings. Along the street, there are beautifully designed statues and monuments. One of the monuments, located right in the center of Graben Street, is of historical importance and is considered a tourist attraction. This is the Plague Column, a memorial to the terrible plague that claimed many victims in the city in 1679. You can’t miss it as you walk along the street.
At the end of the street, you reach an intersection where you should turn left towards Kohlmarkt Street, which leads to St. Michael’s Square (Michaelerplatz) and the Hofburg Palace. Another option is to walk along the beautiful Kärntner Street, which leads to the city’s magnificent State Opera House (Wiener Staatsoper). This street is also full of shops, cafes, and restaurants.
If you want to taste a Sachertorte or an apple strudel with hot vanilla sauce on top, you should go to the Demel confectionery or the old coffee house – Café Central. These are very touristy places, so the prices are accordingly, but they certainly provide the authentic Austrian experience of the days of emperors and nobles. Both are located in the heart of the old city, so you can reach them with a short walk through the ancient streets.
- Demel Confectionery Address: Kohlmarkt 14, 1010 Wien. Map
- Café Central Address: Herrengasse 14, 1010 Wien. Map
If you are interested in other coffee houses, we have prepared a comprehensive list of recommended coffee houses in Vienna.
You can also head towards Schwedenplatz and wander through the ancient streets of the Bermuda Triangle. There are many bars and restaurants there, as well as historical Jewish sites such as Judenplatz and the Great Synagogue. You can find extensive information on all of Vienna’s Jewish sites in our comprehensive article on 20 Jewish places in Vienna.
